DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER WELCOMES US ASSISTANCE TO OGADEN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 000054 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PHUM PREL ET SUBJECT: DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER WELCOMES US ASSISTANCE TO OGADEN SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Deputy Prime Minister Addisu Legesse applauded USG support and development cooperation with Ethiopia in a very warm and cordial January 2nd meeting with Ambassador, Acting Director of USAID/Ethiopia, and political counselor. Addisu welcomed USAID's Humanitarian Assistance Team (HAT),noting even the Ethiopian Government's (GoE) lack of balanced information about conditions in the Ogaden area. Addisu urged the USG to look beyond the current situation in the Ogaden to focus on longer-term development needs of the region. The DPM noted that Somali Regional State had developed a five-year Strategic Plan for Development of the region to include health, education, water/sanitation, agriculture, soil conservation, livestock issues, etc. to be piloted in 20 non-conflict-affected woredas this year. End Summary. CONDITIONS IN THE OGADEN -------------- ¶2. (U) The Ambassador opened the meeting by emphasizing the Embassy and USG's interest in getting accurate information about conditions in Ethiopia's Ogaden region to advise the USG and GoE on interventions necessary to de-escalate tensions and address humanitarian concerns. The Ambassador noted the arrival of the HAT in Ethiopia and Acting Mission Director Kevin Rushing noted that the Team is composed of technical experts from USAID and CDC to focus on food needs, health needs, water/sanitation, the impacts of recent developments on livelihoods, and the impacts of locusts in conflict-affected areas of the Ogaden. OFDA staff member Rick Quinby highlighted that the Team is impartial and aimed to review conditions, make recommendations, and share its results with the GoE. The DPM welcomed the HAT Team and applauded the very strong U.S. development cooperation with Ethiopia. Addisu acknowledged that the GoE itself lacks balanced information about conditions in the Ogaden. While noting that the Somali regional government can cooperate on assistance, the Ogaden especially, but the country generally, lacks strong local administration at the woreda and zone levels and the Ogaden specifically lacks quality infrastructure. ¶3. (U) While the DPM welcomed the HAT, he noted that unless Ethiopia and its partners focus on long-term development (as well as emergency) efforts in Somali region, the region will remain stuck in a vicious cycle. Today, he argued, insecurity continues to undermine development and impede food distribution to beneficiaries. Logistical challenges and price hikes by private traders and transporters further stymie expeditious food distribution. ¶4. (SBU) In a concerning turn in the conversation, the DPM noted that the HAT team would be useful to "countercheck" conditions on the ground reported by NGOs who "have a vested interest in exposing the GoE [of neglecting or abusing its own citizens]". The Deputy Prime Minister said that some NGOs are cooperating with the ONLF, noting even the Save the Children/UK (SC/UK) has contacts with the ONLF. Presumably in response to a Save the Children/UK (SC/UK) health study in Fik zone revealed that there is over 20% global acute malnutrition, Addisu reported that the GoE sent a team "using standard indicators" to the zone. The GoE team, he argued, found that conditions "are not that serious." The GoE is not denying the existence of malnutrition, he pointed out, but normally prevailing rates of malnutrition must be considered. LONGER TERM DEVELOPMENT OF SOMALI REGION -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The DPM noted that the Somali Regional State, in coordination with the GoE, has developed a five-year Strategic Plan for the Development of the region. He noted that a pilot of the Plan, which includes attention to health, education, water/sanitation, agriculture, soil conservation, and livestock sectors, will be piloted in 20 non-conflict-affected woredas in the region. Because the Somali regional authorities have "failed to appropriately utilize" money allocated to it by the central government, the DPM argued, Addis Ababa has dispatched a team of officials from the central government to build local capacity (NFI). The Ministry of Federal Affairs should be coordinating this effort, he stated. The Acting USAID Mission Director requested a copy of the Development Plan, which the DPM promised to provide. COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The DPM's support for the HAT enabled Post to inform the Press (as well as GoE, military, security, and other audiences) of the Team's presence in country and the GoE's support for their activities. Further, Post acknowledges the DPM's argument that ADDIS ABAB 00000054 002 OF 002 long-term development assistance, in addition to the current emergency assistance, is critical to the long-term stability of the Somali region and its conflict-impacted Ogaden areas. Nevertheless, the DPM's comments of the anti-government vested interests of non-governmental organizations highlights the challenges that the donor community faces in implementing both emergency and development assistance in the area. Post will continue to emphasize the technical capacity of NGOs to implement assistance programs. YAMAMOTO